Benton Harbor lead pipes replacement nearing completion

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- The Benton Harbor lead pipe replacement project is 74 percent complete and scheduled to finish in ten months.

Out of the 4,492 assumed lead service lines leading from city water mains to Benton Harbor homes, 3,332 have been dug up, checked and replaced if necessary.

Although there are still 1,162 pipes still to be checked, the five companies replacing the underground lines have checked 544 homes in the past 30 days.

The state advised that residents should still be using bottled water or a lead reducing filter until the entire project is complete.

All the work is expected to be complete by May 2023.